The rooftop restaurant buzzed with clinking glasses and low conversation, the skyline of the city glowing behind them.
"So...where do you travel?" The pretty brunette asked, swirling the red wine in her cup. The red dress hugged her curves, the straps showing her bare shoulders. Her red heels wrapped around her feet.
The handsome bald man in front of her smiled seductively, his suit straining around his body.
He chuckled. "I've been to Columbia—"
Jada oohed, smacking her hand on the table.
The man's confident gaze gave way to confusion.
"What?" He shrugged.
"Been there, done that. Nearly died. It was my fault," she added.
The man looked around as she sipped her drink. "Surely you've gone somewhere else?" she asked, grinning.
The smile returned to his face. "I've been....to Mexico—"
Her red lips gave way to a strained grimace as hissed through her teeth.
"Sorry. No. Been there as well," she chuckled, rubbing her hands together.
The man let out a scoff. "Are you serious?" Annoyance in his voice.
He shook his head and got up, fixing his blazer. "We're done," he said finally. Jada set down her glass, tossing back her hair, her mouth in a thin line.
"I said in our texts, I want a respectful woman, who knows her worth. And since you aren't that—"
"Woah. Woah. So Bungee jumping isn't impressive anymore?" Jada interrupted, eyes expressing disbelief.
He blinked. "What?"
"Bungee jumping, sky diving, gliding. I ate fugu once. The bungee jumping in Columbia is how I almost died, fun fact," she grinned.
The man scowled at her. "Is there anywhere you haven't gone too?"
"Um...." she reached into her purse, pulling out a notebook. She flipped through a few pages, stopped and snapped her fingers when she found the word.
"Uh....Dubai. I haven't been to Dubai," she replied, grinning ear to ear. The man scoffed once more and storms off. "Hey! It's not my fault you're boring. I mean...we can have our wedding in Dubai!" She called after him. He pushes past a waiter and heads down the stairs.
Jada sighs and sits back in her chair, sipping some more wine. She then turns in her chair and waves her hand. "Waiter! Waiter!" she called. A waiter went up to her, smiling. "Yes Ma'am?" He asked. "Hi. I'm afraid I have to pay for everything," she replied, smiling. "My date just bailed on me."
The waiter nodded, understandable. "I'll get the receipt," he said. "Thank you," she grinned as he went off. She leaned back in her chair and sipped from the cup.
The wine tasted soured now.
Jada passed through the automatic door, dialing a number. Her phone rang as she looked and saw her date drive off into the night. Letting her a groan, her mood lightened a bit when her mother answered.
"How's the date?" Her mother asked, her voice chirpy. "Hi Mommy. I got dumped," she replied deadpan. An eruption of laughter came from the other line. "Are you serious?" Her brother, Henry scoffed. "Bingo, bitch!"
"Henry!" Her mother barked, followed by the distant sounds of a slap (or several). Jada let out a chuckle. "Are you coming home?" Her Mom asked, sounding out of breath after delivering swift justice.
Jada shook her head, glancing about. "No, my date left me. I'm looking to get—"
"What?" Her father's voice boomed, interrupting her. "He did what? Oh hell now. I'm getting over that right now..." his voice drifted off.
"Honey—" the mother began.
"....Keys now!" He ordered.
There was a silence, broken by a slamming of the door.
Her mother's sigh told her everything she needed to know.
Daddy was coming to pick her up.
She should probably warn her date to change addresses too.
Jada gazed out the window as the Ford truck pulled into the driveway. He parked then turned to his daughter.
"You better tell me where that son of a bastard lives now," his southern accent thick. "Daddy, please. It didn't work. You'll never see him again," she smiled. Her father frowned. "If you say so, hun buns," his frown twists into a small smile.
The two simultaneously buckle their seat belts and exit the vehicle. They ran up the driveway, passing by the mail box that said, "Guytan."
Inside the comfy house, she rolled her eyes at her six siblings: Henry, Connor, Kenny, Catherine, Emmie and John, grinning at her. They were mysteriously dressed in swim wear.
"Let me guess. He didn't like you travelled everywhere," Emmie giggled as Jada kicked off her heels and placed them under the rack.
Her eyes go to and fro from each sibling. "Yeah. He was pretty upset," she shrugged.
"Bingo! Bingo!" Henry shouted, jumping up and down on the couch. His mother, Mrs. Guytan, seemingly spawned behind, bonked his head with a slipper. He groaned, laughing as she went up to Jada and hugged her.
"You'll find your special someone, trust me dear," she ruffled her daughter's hair. "Well," Catherine stood up, extending her hand. "My dress?"
Jada laughed. "You know I got this from the Thrift store."
The house erupted in laughter, Mr. Guytan bending over, his anger against her date forgotten.
Connor stood up, gesturing for them to be silent. "I say we celebrate our little sister's status of being single yet again with a pool party!" He cheered.
Everyone began to clap and whistle loudly.
"At...." she checked the clock on the wall. "At 8 p.m.?" Mrs. Guytan frowned. "We'll be quiet. To the grill!" Kenny pointed dramatically at the chandelier.
"Boy, that's my line," Mr. Guytan frowned, which gave way to a smile. "To the grill!" He pointed at the chandelier dramatically before running off. The children got up from the couch and chair, following their father. Mrs. Guytan sighed and followed the others
"I'll go change!" Jada shouted before running off, running up the stairs.
John sighed dramatically. "I hate the grill," he murmured before getting up. He strolled towards the glass sliding door, groaning.
As he slid it open, he yelped as he's grabbed by the collar. "Come on. John!" Henry laughed as he pulled him towards the pool.
"No! Please!" He pleaded. His pleas fell on deaf ears as Henry jumped into the pool, with his brother with him, creating a huge splash that soaked Mrs. Guytan.
Jada ran out excitedly. She wore a blue swim leotard and pushed her purple goggles over her eyes. "Yee haw!" She cried as she ran and jumped in, creating another splash and soaking Mom.
Shaking off the water, she hobbled over to her husband who was whistling happily. He was flipping some ribeye steaks. "I hate this," she muttered, brushing her hair back. Noticing his swim trunks, she scoffed in disbelief and amusement. "When did you...get that?" She laughed.
Looking up at her, he noticed his trunks and laughs with her. "I have my ways," he winks.
Screams fill the pool as Catherine and Emmie emerge with water guns and start firing at the siblings in the pool. Jada, and John swim about, avoiding it.
So absorbed they were that they failed to see Kenny and Henry, who had snuck out of the pool, sneak behind them. They shoved them, evoking cries from the girls and the boys hop in later.
They emerged and Emmie hits Henry, the pool filled with laughter once more.
Jada couldn't help but smile at the scene—her siblings screaming, their mother shaking her head in amusement and her father flipping steaks and doing a fist pump when he succeeds—and felt better. Not great but better.
"Food's ready," Mrs. Guytan calls, grinning. Henry get out, only to be hit with cold water. His mother, the guilty culprit holding a bucket, laughs at her son's misfortune. He only gave her an amused look. "Touché, Mom. Touché," he nods in approval.
"Next time, don't splash around like an animal," she giggled.
The children climbed out and hobbled over to the outside table. Mrs. Guytan set down some plates, and Mr. Guytan handed each one their steaks. Sitting down once more, Mrs. Guytan placed down pots filled with red beans, curry, and rice. She served them on each of her children's plate
Mr. Guytan placed down some beers, causing some hooting from the boys. "Shut up, now. You may be adults but you act like children," his face breaking into a smile.
He sits down as does his wife with them and they clasp their hands to say grace. "John?" Mrs. Guytan said. "Dear lord, we thank you for this food, the pool and this beautiful day. May Jada find happiness and a purpose, Lord. If it be your will. Amen."
"Amen," the rest said in unison.
"Dig in!" Mr. Guytan beckoned eagerly.
The children dug into their steaks, enjoying the chewiness. "Your date just missed out on a lifetime of curry," Kenny joked. "You said it," Jada grinned as she toasted her brother's beer.
Jada plopped onto her bed, exhaustion setting in. She needed to rest up for her cashier job at the store tomorrow. She reached into her purse and fished out her notebook. She flipped through every page and finding it, crossed out: "Date successful to 8."
"You still have that thing?" Kenny asked, plopping onto the bottom bunk bed. Jada flashed him a grin. "It's my bucket list. Of course I do," she said as Catherine joined them. "That never made sense to me. I thought a bucket list was something for dying people?" She sassed.
Jada laid onto her back. "At sixteen years and suffering the flu, it felt like dying," she replied swiftly.
She flipped through more pages until she came to the end of her list. She paused and stared forlorn at the sentence that was circled in pink ink: "Speak to my real mother."
Overwhelmed with emotion, she let out a shaky breath before turning over to her side and opening her drawer. She tossed it in and closed it. "Woah. You okay?" Catherine asked, worried.
Jada nodded, her eyes suddenly feeling heavy with unshed tears, making it too difficult to speak. She pulled the covers up to her chin and reached for the bedside lamp.
"Good night," she whispered, her voice cracking slightly. She pulled the string, plunging their corner of the room into darkness. Closing her eyes tightly, she finally drifted into a troubled sleep.
Catherine sighed softly and strolled over to the top bunk of her own bed, the springs creaking softly under her weight. Tucking herself under the covers, she glanced down at Jada's still form, a shadow of concern on her face. "Good night," she said sadly before closing her own eyes and succumbing to sleep.
The next morning, Jada slid the can under the scanner, the beeping sound doing little to lift her spirits. "Are you okay?" The lady standing there, asked. Jada nods, fighting the urge to cry.
"Terrible date," she smiled as she scanned another item. "I see. I wish you the best," the woman smiled. "Of course, ma'am," she said cheerfully.
She added up the prices, handed her the receipt, and placed the items in the bag. She hands them to her with a beaming smile. "God bless," she bid her as she left.
Another woman approaches her, placing her items on the belt. "A beautiful woman like you shouldn't be working. You should own your business," she said, gently.
Jada laughed. "I did own one. In Italy. I went bankrupt in a few month and nearly went to jail for fraud," she joked. The woman blinked and nervously laughed with her.
"Okay, that is...$86.60," she smiled, finally. "What? I...I can't pay that much," The woman said, worried.
Jada produces some coupons and begins to scan them. "Oh, would you look at that. Now it's $25.25," she smiled. "Oh thank you," the woman said, taking her receipt.
Jada placed her goods in the bag and waved the woman goodbye.
"Jada!" She heard a shout from the manager. Turning around, she saluted the bigger woman. "Howdy, Mrs. Warner. Good morning!" She greeted.
"Yeah. Yeah. Stop helping the customers!" She demanded. "Yes ma'am," she saluted again before turning back around.
An old man wearing a fedora, trench coat that reached to his feet, came to her. His black trousers were hidden up to his ankles and his brown shoes glistened in the light. He placed only three items on the table.
"Good morning, miss," he greeted. Jada paused and a smile came to her face. "You British? 'Cause that accent's thick!" She giggled. He took off his fedora and he smiled. Even his eyes smiled—kind and that of a gentleman.
"Yes, I am," he nodded.
"You look like...a woman's who been places," he spoke as she scanned his cereal box. "Yes, I am. Does that bother you?" She asked, eyeing him curiously as she scanned a can of red beans.
"Not at all. In fact, my boss loves women like that," he grinned. "And who might he be, sir?" She asked, a grin spreading on her face as she scanned the final item, packet of marshmallows.
"Come and find out," he said, handing her a small card. She took it and stared at the golden italic words. "Maximoff Inc...." she pondered, her lips curved in a concentrated frown. "That name sounds familiar....."
"Your name miss?" he asked her. "Oh! Uh...Jada Guytan, sir."
"Jada Guytan...please contact my boss," he urged as she packed his stuff into bags. He took them and headed for the exit.
He turned and gazed into her eyes. "Having seen the world doesn't mean your loose. You're just harder to be controlled by others," he tips his fedora before exiting.
Jada looks at the card. "Mrs. Warner?" She calls. The big woman emerges from the back, half-chewing a donut. "What?"
"I quit," she announced, dashing towards the door.
The woman's eyes popped open. She chased after her shouting, "What! Hey! Guytan! Guytan!"
She exited the store, standing outside, looking about. Realizing her best employee has vanished, she fell on her knees. "GUYTAN!" She shouted into the morning air, confused customers filing past her.
"What do you mean you quit?" Mrs. Guytan asks her daughter. Everyone was gathered in the cozy living room, with Jada standing in the middle. Kenny held the card, inspecting it carefully.
"I...I don't know. It just seems like an amazing opportunity. You want me to say no?"
"Yes, honey," Mr. Guytan said, leaning forward in his seat. "Big E's provides you a lot of money and you're gonna throw it for some...Maximoff guy?" He turned to Catherine.
"It's probably mind-controlling her," Kenny frowned.
Catherine, laptop resting on her lap, typed into the Google Search engine. "Maximoff....No, no The Scarlet Witch."
She sighed. "What's make you think I care about her brother—there!" She grinned.
Shifting her feet up on the couch—which earned a glare from Mommy dearest—she read, "Jaiden Maximoff.....Born in 1987. Currently a bachelor...." she gave a smug smile at Jada who mouthed, "Stop it."
"Uh....." she moved her finger across the mouse and clicked "Images."
"Ta-da!" She said, flipping the laptop over to her family. They leaned in and eyed the picture. It showed Jaiden, golf club raised in the air after hitting the ball. His eyes were keen and focused.
He was dressed in a short-sleeved white shirt, a brown sweater vest worn over his shirt and brown shorts showed his youthful ankles.
"Ooh la la," Emmie swooned. Catherine chuckled. "Don't be too impressed. That's him ten years ago," she said, turning the laptop back to her. "The paparazzi hates him."
Connor frowned and looked right at his sister. "Why?"
"Because there's only ten pictures of him in Images. He's rather secretive.." she murmured, her eyes glued to the screen. "Also he's British."
"Isn't his name Maximoff?" Henry pointed out.
"That's his surname, Henry. It's Russian. I guess he's half-Russian, but I don't know. He's never around," she shrugged.
"Catherine...." Her mother warned.
"I'm serious. That's what it says on this website, here. The Wikipedia page on him is as barren as a desert," she sighed, closing off the browser and slams down her laptop.
"Barely any pictures and no Wikipedia? Dude's hack," Kenny concluded.
"But there's a chance he isn't," Jada argued.
"As the older brother, I say let her go," he reasoned. "If he's a hack, you can just call us. You will call us, right?"
Jada nods. "I will."
"Good to see your mood's improved, since you were all...dower this morning," Mrs. Guytan smiled.
Jada fidgeted her fingers. "I was checking my list last night...and saw the one about my mother...."
Everyone's gaze softened. Mrs. Guytan stood up and went over to her daughter. She wrapped her in a tight hug. Jada embraced her mother back. Everyone followed suit, wrapping their arms around her
"Jada, you may not have been born from Mom, but you're still family," Henry mumbled. "Never forget that," Kenny said comfortingly. Jada nodded, sniffling.
"Thanks guys," she chuckled. "I'll call this Maximoff guy and whatever happens. Be there for me."
"We will, sis," Emmie promised, voice cracking.
"Always, hun bun," Mr. Guytan said, fighting tears.
Jada allowed herself to melt in the warmth. No matter how old she gets, a group hug always made her feel better.
"I don't know where this is going," Jada thought. "But maybe....just maybe...it'll be something good."